Thoughts on the new Microcosm Publishing statement? - We Make Zines2015-08-02T22:39:52Zhttp://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/thoughts-on-the-new-microcosm?commentId=2288844%3AComment%3A335611&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI like Pioneers Press and avo…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2014-01-07:2288844:Comment:3794642014-01-07T17:39:52.707ZThe BellaViehttp://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/IsabelleRizo
<p>I like Pioneers Press and avoid Microcosm from what I've heard of them. </p>
<p>I like Pioneers Press and avoid Microcosm from what I've heard of them. </p> I really want to start a publ…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2012-10-03:2288844:Comment:3331782012-10-03T18:42:03.363ZThe BellaViehttp://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/IsabelleRizo
<p>I really want to start a publishing/distro because I love the stuff that is at Microcosm. But I'm just learning about bookbinding and things. If anyone would like to connect they can e-mail me at bellavie92@gmail.com - I want to have zines, publish books, tees, dvds, and buttons. :) <br></br> <br></br> <cite>Dan 10things said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/thoughts-on-the-new-microcosm#2288844Comment238385"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">If it's a little…</div>
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<p>I really want to start a publishing/distro because I love the stuff that is at Microcosm. But I'm just learning about bookbinding and things. If anyone would like to connect they can e-mail me at bellavie92@gmail.com - I want to have zines, publish books, tees, dvds, and buttons. :) <br/> <br/> <cite>Dan 10things said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/thoughts-on-the-new-microcosm#2288844Comment238385"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">If it's a little too late, do you think any other distro or collective is ready to step up and take their place? I love that there are tons of smaller/DIY zine distros out there to keep the zine community alive, I did one myself for many years. But I really feel for zines to thrive there needs to be a few bigger distros and publishers with great distribution networks. There was a time when we could turn to one or two zine distributors to get our zines into record stores, book stores and zine stores throughout the States (or in the case of Clint at Tower, throughout the world). While about every big distro has failed, usually another has popped up to take it's place. Microcosm has been that distro for many years, if they fail because of this, who's ready to step in a run a big distro full time?</div>
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</blockquote> I personally think it is pret…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2011-07-15:2288844:Comment:2505522011-07-15T08:54:12.898ZDustin Zine!http://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/DustinIsrael
I personally think it is pretty ridiculous that they state they want to be transparent and "open the conversation" but then they delete the comments people left. Pretty "shady" business practices....
I personally think it is pretty ridiculous that they state they want to be transparent and "open the conversation" but then they delete the comments people left. Pretty "shady" business practices.... It's like they teach you at e…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2011-07-14:2288844:Comment:2501212011-07-14T09:01:02.766ZDerek Neulandhttp://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/DerekNeuland
It's like they teach you at every retail job: a happy customer will tell 2 people how much they love your business, but an upset customer will tell 10 people how much they hate your business.
It's like they teach you at every retail job: a happy customer will tell 2 people how much they love your business, but an upset customer will tell 10 people how much they hate your business. Sadly, I can see how larger i…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2011-07-11:2288844:Comment:2483912011-07-11T13:24:32.568ZAlex Wrekkhttp://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/alexwrekk
<p>Sadly, I can see how larger institutions and people who don't care about accountability and don't care about social justice in their communities would still want to support Microcosm. What's it to anyone in the larger framework of our callous society that someone just behaves as a capitalist, abuses <strong>TWO</strong> intimate partners, steals artwork, withholds paychecks, reprints zines without permission, repeatedly undermines a supposed collective, and evades multiple attempts at…</p>
<p>Sadly, I can see how larger institutions and people who don't care about accountability and don't care about social justice in their communities would still want to support Microcosm. What's it to anyone in the larger framework of our callous society that someone just behaves as a capitalist, abuses <strong>TWO</strong> intimate partners, steals artwork, withholds paychecks, reprints zines without permission, repeatedly undermines a supposed collective, and evades multiple attempts at community accountability? It's par for the course in the larger world, and I think it is sad.</p>
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<p>To me, the damnable shame is the disconnect be the image they have and the items they carry vs. how they behave and what they say.</p>
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<p>People keep talking about Microcosm carrying all these great zines but something no one has mentioned yet is that people are pulling their items from the Microcosm catalog pretty frequently. I personally know of at least two dozen people that have pulled their great zines, artwork, and even chosen not to publish with Microcosm because of this whole situation and even more who are just going to let their items sell out and not restock. So, where does that leave their selection? Especially when people can no longer get long running zines they expect Microcosm to carry, like Doris?</p>
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<p> </p> you're very welcome Beth.
Be…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2011-07-10:2288844:Comment:2483612011-07-10T07:46:59.368ZDerek Neulandhttp://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/DerekNeuland
you're very welcome Beth.<br></br>
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<cite>Beth M said:</cite><br />
<blockquote cite="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/thoughts-on-the-new-microcosm?page=4&amp;commentId=2288844%3AComment%3A246892&amp;x=1#2288844Comment246892"><div><p>thanks for posting all this, Derek.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't buy from Microcosm.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>and honestly, I think people should read Cindy Crabb (of Doris)'s statements about Microcosm (she used to publish through them, and this documents the problems she…</p>
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you're very welcome Beth.<br/>
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<cite>Beth M said:</cite><br />
<blockquote cite="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/thoughts-on-the-new-microcosm?page=4&amp;commentId=2288844%3AComment%3A246892&amp;x=1#2288844Comment246892"><div><p>thanks for posting all this, Derek.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't buy from Microcosm.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>and honestly, I think people should read Cindy Crabb (of Doris)'s statements about Microcosm (she used to publish through them, and this documents the problems she had with them):</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/microcosm.html" target="_blank">http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/microcosm.html</a></p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-wont-be-working-with-microcosm.html" target="_blank">http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-wont-be-working-with-mi...</a></p>
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</blockquote> thanks for posting all this,…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2011-07-08:2288844:Comment:2468922011-07-08T13:20:04.804ZBeth Mhttp://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/BethMorgan
<p>thanks for posting all this, Derek.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't buy from Microcosm.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>and honestly, I think people should read Cindy Crabb (of Doris)'s statements about Microcosm (she used to publish through them, and this documents the problems she had with them):</p>
<p><a href="http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/microcosm.html" target="_blank">http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/microcosm.html…</a></p>
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<p>thanks for posting all this, Derek.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't buy from Microcosm.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>and honestly, I think people should read Cindy Crabb (of Doris)'s statements about Microcosm (she used to publish through them, and this documents the problems she had with them):</p>
<p><a href="http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/microcosm.html" target="_blank">http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/microcosm.html</a></p>
<p><a href="http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-wont-be-working-with-microcosm.html" target="_blank">http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-wont-be-working-with-microcosm.html</a></p> Yes there are, check this thr…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2011-07-08:2288844:Comment:2468782011-07-08T06:47:42.689ZDerek Neulandhttp://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/DerekNeuland
Yes there are, check this thread: <a href="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/microcosm-issues?id=2288844%3ATopic%3A118047&amp;page=1">http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/microcosm-issues?id=2288844%3ATopic%3A118047&amp;page=1</a><br></br>
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<cite>Celina said:</cite><br />
<blockquote cite="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/thoughts-on-the-new-microcosm?x=1&amp;id=2288844%3ATopic%3A236805&amp;page=4#2288844Comment246476"><div>Yeah, personally I don't buy from Microcosm either, but I…</div>
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Yes there are, check this thread: <a href="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/microcosm-issues?id=2288844%3ATopic%3A118047&amp;page=1">http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/microcosm-issues?id=2288844%3ATopic%3A118047&amp;page=1</a><br/>
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<cite>Celina said:</cite><br />
<blockquote cite="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/thoughts-on-the-new-microcosm?x=1&amp;id=2288844%3ATopic%3A236805&amp;page=4#2288844Comment246476"><div>Yeah, personally I don't buy from Microcosm either, but I can't stop my library from buying from Microcosm. They go where it seems quick and easy, and my explaining the dealings between people behind the scenes would only get me strange looks. The situation doesn't really translate to people outside of a particular community, even within the zine community it doesn't connect on the same level with everyone. But perhaps I can appeal to the folks who choose where to order from by discussing the theft from and unfair compensation of zine artists and writers... I believe I saw a couple of comments questioning Microcosm's business practices. Are there documented complaints?<br/> <br/>
<cite>Femme Fallout said:</cite><br/>
<blockquote cite="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/thoughts-on-the-new-microcosm?id=2288844%3ATopic%3A236805&amp;page=4#2288844Comment246247">Me, personally, I don't buy anything from Microcosm anymore, but what other people do with their money is really, their own decision.</blockquote>
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</blockquote> Yeah, personally I don't buy…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2011-07-06:2288844:Comment:2464762011-07-06T22:49:57.000ZCelinahttp://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/CelinaWilliams
Yeah, personally I don't buy from Microcosm either, but I can't stop my library from buying from Microcosm. They go where it seems quick and easy, and my explaining the dealings between people behind the scenes would only get me strange looks. The situation doesn't really translate to people outside of a particular community, even within the zine community it doesn't connect on the same level with everyone. But perhaps I can appeal to the folks who choose where to order from by discussing the…
Yeah, personally I don't buy from Microcosm either, but I can't stop my library from buying from Microcosm. They go where it seems quick and easy, and my explaining the dealings between people behind the scenes would only get me strange looks. The situation doesn't really translate to people outside of a particular community, even within the zine community it doesn't connect on the same level with everyone. But perhaps I can appeal to the folks who choose where to order from by discussing the theft from and unfair compensation of zine artists and writers... I believe I saw a couple of comments questioning Microcosm's business practices. Are there documented complaints?<br/>
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<cite>Femme Fallout said:</cite><br />
<blockquote cite="http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/thoughts-on-the-new-microcosm?id=2288844%3ATopic%3A236805&amp;page=4#2288844Comment246247">Me, personally, I don't buy anything from Microcosm anymore, but what other people do with their money is really, their own decision.</blockquote> This whole situation with Mic…tag:wemakezines.ning.com,2011-07-06:2288844:Comment:2462472011-07-06T18:02:23.278ZRochelle Fallouthttp://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/femmefallout
<p>This whole situation with Microcosm puts me in a rather odd moral place. I read the issue of Brainscan where Alex talked about her relationship problems before I had heard about all the other dubious stuff going on with Microcosm- the stealing, not giving credit, etc. Honestly, being a survivor of extreme emotional abuse (which, unfortunately, was quite a bit worse than what Alex got, on top of all the other ways I'd been abused over the years) I couldn't in good conscience feel okay…</p>
<p>This whole situation with Microcosm puts me in a rather odd moral place. I read the issue of Brainscan where Alex talked about her relationship problems before I had heard about all the other dubious stuff going on with Microcosm- the stealing, not giving credit, etc. Honestly, being a survivor of extreme emotional abuse (which, unfortunately, was quite a bit worse than what Alex got, on top of all the other ways I'd been abused over the years) I couldn't in good conscience feel okay supporting that collective anymore. Really, I agree with people here when they said that the statement was too little, too late. I can understand from a business standpoint why they'd delete the comments from the site, but, well, it does seem a little bit less than honest the way they went about it. And I was a tireless supporter of Microcosm, too- at one point, I even handed out their catalog to friends who were interested in the whole zine culture.</p>
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<p>But, at the same time, I can see why people would still be willing after all that to support Microcosm. It is true that a lot of us can't really afford to buy our zines individually from many different sources, and pay international shipping on top of that for our packages. I'd be willing to bet that, unlike me, if you didn't have any investment in the drama, or if you don't really have a clear idea of what went on and continues to go on with Alex's ex and his (former) partners, it would seem like people were making a big deal over things. While all the other smaller distros are good places to get zines and are run more ethically than Microcosm, there still remains the issue of, if Microcosm does go away, how are we going to be able to get those good deals? I'm not doubting the ability of these smaller distros to step up to the plate to do this, but it could be a bit problematic, as it would be more work for them to do something like that.</p>
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<p>Me, personally, I don't buy anything from Microcosm anymore, but what other people do with their money is really, their own decision.</p>